What is the most beautiful city in Poland and why?‎

[CigarSmoke]

Nice cities, shame they're full of violent skinheads who like beating up foreigners for fun.

[Urbanista1]

I've never seen skin heads in any city in Poland, only in the UK did I witness this phenomenon.

[seba65536]

Originally Posted by Urbanista1

I've never seen skin heads in any city in Poland, only in the UK did I witness this phenomenon.

Yeah, they were popular in early 90'. Probably some still exist, but it's hard to spot them.

But we do have "dresiarze" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dres. I think every country have problematic subcultures, thought.

[Amrafel]

From these cities I visited only Krakow so far...But I can hardly imagine, that there can be more beautiful city On the other hand, I have so much reasons to visit Poland again

[gmacruyff]

Katowice,could be a lot better.!

[Kiboko]

Warsaw, because it has some beautiful modern skyscrapers and a nice shoppingmall (Zlote Tarasy).

[Marbur66]

Originally Posted by gmacruyff

Katowice,could be a lot better.!

Katowice left a sour taste in my mouth when I visited it. Compared to the other cities discussed here, it's not even in the same ballpark.

[Marbur66]

Originally Posted by CigarSmoke

Nice cities, shame they're full of violent skinheads who like beating up foreigners for fun.

You don't have a clue what the f&@k you're talking about. Go away.

[Jeanbonnau]

Penetrating !

[rychlik]

Originally Posted by Marbur66

Katowice left a sour taste in my mouth when I visited it. Compared to the other cities discussed here, it's not even in the same ballpark.

But it has a bit of a historical center, doesn't it?

[Mr. America]

Originally Posted by rychlik

But it has a bit of a historical center, doesn't it?

Doesn't. Katowice has nice XIX/XX century center, but it's not even a little as historical as center of nearby Bytom, or Gliwice.

[Marbur66]

Originally Posted by rychlik

But it has a bit of a historical center, doesn't it?

I don't know. I stayed near the main train station, and the problem that I encountered is that most of the buildings are black with soot. I suppose the city would be much nicer after extensive renovations. It didn't help that the weather was cool and rainy, making the city look that much more gloomy than it was.

[RS_UK-PL]

Originally Posted by StaryOliwianin

Moja odpowiedź, chociaż zdjęcie nie moje:

Pre-war Gdansk would easily take a second place on my list of the most beautiful cities in Poland. Unfortunately, the city despite the huge renovation works still doesn't look so beautiful as before the war (destruction during the war was enormous, and Poles couldn't afford and still can't afford detailed reconstruction of historical monuments). Also, there were some Commieblocks (or modern Wybrzeze Theatre) built in the Old Town area...and Lower Town (Dolne Miasto) is really neglected place (unpleasant for tourists).

[michuu]

TORUŃ

[Iluminat]

Originally Posted by seba65536

Yeah, they were popular in early 90'. Probably some still exist, but it's hard to spot them.

But we do have "dresiarze" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dres. I think every country have problematic subcultures, thought.

Dresiarze-sport suit wearers were never a real subculture it's more like a description of people behaving in certain (often antisocial) way. It's true that we don't have many skinheads this days but many football fans are strangely attracted to some neonazi symbols and ideology.

[seba65536]

Originally Posted by Iluminat

Dresiarze-sport suit wearers were never a real subculture it's more like a description of people behaving in certain (often antisocial) way. It's true that we don't have many skinheads this days but many football fans are strangely attracted to some neonazi symbols and ideology.

I promised myself to not argue about definitions, as that doesn't change a thing. Subculture or not - dresiarze exist in Poland, and that's the most probable source of problems for tourists.

But all in all Poland is quite safe country, according to this study by EU EUICS_The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf overall risk of crime in Poland is slightly above EU average, between the risk of crim in Germany and Sweden. UK is 1.5 times more risky according to this statistic. So I wouldn't worry too much if I were foreign tourist wondering if it's safe to go to Poland.

[Urbanista1]

that's from 2005, a year a huge transition for Poland when crime stats shot up, actual crime rates now in Poland are among the lowest in the western world and lowest in Europe. Anyway, I read some crime stats from various sources, most recent I could find now was 2009 - "Newer studies (2009) report that the victimisation rate in Poland is constantly decreasing, and in 2008 Poland was 25th among 36 European countries.[2][3]". In 2006, Poland's murder rate and violent crime rate was the same as Denmark, 23rd (2006). Highest crime rates were in Upper Silesia where jobless rates were highest in 2009, but that has changed since then. I agree, there is a problem with some segments of Polish youth. Here in Canada, crime is a daily reality. In my nice middle-class neighboruhood here there were 4 break-ins last week, a murder down the block in the last year, one rape on the lawn next to my house of a femal jogger a month ago, lots of grafitti (but it's cleaned up fast), vandalism etc.

But people have to be smart to avoid crimes, especially if you don't know a city or town, stay away from unlight off-the-beaten-track places and from obvious groups of hoodlums.

[rychlik]

Originally Posted by seba65536

I promised myself to not argue about definitions, as that doesn't change a thing. Subculture or not - dresiarze exist in Poland, and that's the most probable source of problems for tourists.

But all in all Poland is quite safe country, according to this study by EU EUICS_The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf overall risk of crime in Poland is slightly above EU average, between the risk of crim in Germany and Sweden. UK is 1.5 times more risky according to this statistic. So I wouldn't worry too much if I were foreign tourist wondering if it's safe to go to Poland.

The "risk" depends mostly on the color of your skin. Just telling like it is.
An "Anglik" will have not problem but a "Pakus" might.

Wherever there is a large influx of newcomers from non-western nations, there is always a spike in crime and sometimes it stays this way. Just look at the list. For example I don't have to be a statistician to figure out gun crime is a much much bigger problem in the UK then in Poland. But why?

But I'm really surprised Canada ranked so high.

[Plaas]

Warsaw. I like its contrasts and urbanity.

[rychlik]

Originally Posted by Plaas

Warsaw. I like its contrasts and urbanity.

Me too.